well, they are better than we thought they would be because it doesn't have any impact of hurricane sandy. there wasn't a big displacement of people looking for work. now, let's get a couple of things down here, though, to start with. there are still 12 million unemployed americans. the unemployment rate fell for reasons that we don't like very much. people leaving the labor force. this is a better report than we expected it to be but still not a great report. >> now the question is, what goes on with the fiscal cliff? could the number get any better? >> i think that is the hope on wall street and republicans that have been talk ug for years and of the business community and to start spending down their profits and there might be a better sort of ofavalanche, if u will. the question is, what does that deal have to look like to unleash those hopes? it probably has to be something permanent and not a punt. >> the republicans talked about two things, though. one, as you say, is about certainty and they say that businesses need that certainty to start hiring but they've also warned that if ta